Driving in Belarus

A foreign visitor can drive to Belarus if he has an International driving permit and original documents confirming his ownership of the car. It is permitted to drive in Belarus with the International Driving Permit for three months. If visitor plans stay longer in the country, he must obtain the Belarusian driver license. For obtaining the Belarusian driver license, applicant must pass a two-part test in Russian. At first, it is necessary to take a computer-based multiple-choice test on Belarusian driving rules. Second, it is required to pass a driving test. To receive a Belarusian driver license, it is mandatory to complete a medical exam at a special medical clinic. The medical exam includes: a general physical; approval form from a neuro-pathologist; a surgeon; an EENT specialist; an ECG; a chest x-ray; an eye exam.

Belarusian traffic laws:

Traffic drives on the right.

The minimum driving age is 18 years.

The minimum age for renting a car is 19 years. An additional demand is a driver must hold a valid driving permit for at least one year.

Drivers are obligatory to give way pedestrians at pedestrian crossings marked by respective road signs or road marking.

While driving, using hand-held cell phones is prohibited.

While driving, it is required to have a valid driving permit, car registration documents and insurance papers.

A driver and passengers in front seats must wear seat belts.

It is not permitted to ridden children under 12 years in front seats.

Children under the age of 12 must be seated in a suitable child restraint system.

The one lap child is permitted per adult if adult is on a back seat and use a seat belt.

It is mandatory to have in a car the first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, and warning triangle.

Third party insurance is compulsory.

Radar detectors are prohibited. Use of anti-radars devise is not permitted.

Police is permitted to check any car to check documents.

It is not permitted to drive a dirty car.

It is not permitted to stop and park: in places where the distance between the continuous line of road marking and the stopped vehicle is less than 3 meters; at pedestrian crossing and between 15 meters from them in both sides; at intersection and less than 15 meter from them; on and under bridges, overpasses, platforms except specially equipped places for parking; on railway crossings and 50 meters from them in both sides; on tram ways; at public transport stations and less than 15 meter from them.

The Police phone number is 02.

Additional information:

Most traffic signs are in Cyrillic script only.

Checkpoints are common on roads.

Driving in winter can be dangerous as ice and snow. Winter tires are not compulsory, but they are highly recommended.

In Belarus, there is one toll highway M-1/E-30 from Brest to Moscow.

Visitor from many countries must pay road tax at the border. It is introduced to communicate with Belarusian Traffic Police and know requirements for visitors from your country.

The International motor insurance certificate (Green Card) is valid in Belarus. As for other foreign insurance policies, only few of them are accepted in Belarus so a foreign driver should take the Belarusian insurance; he can purchase it at the border.